Company Summary:
At Häns Kissle, we strive to deliver the simple goodness of home in every bite. Founded in 1984, Häns Kissle began as the regional commissary for a small, high-end grocery chain in New England, MA, crafting fresh, upscale prepared foods and deli salads. Today we have two manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts and North Carolina.
Job Summary:
The Maintenance MRO Planner/Buyer is responsible for the end-to-end management of procurement, inventory control, and vendor performance for all maintenance spare parts, consumables, and services required to support plant reliability and preventative maintenance programs. This role ensures critical and consumable spare parts are accurately planned, stocked, and available within the CMMS (MaintainX) to support execution of all preventative and corrective maintenance activities, while meeting company food safety, quality, and compliance standards.
This position is accountable for planning and coordinating external contractor activities, including both preventative and corrective work orders, ensuring services are scheduled, executed safely, and completed on time and within budget. The MRO Planner/Buyer plays a key role in supporting the Weekend PM program by preparing and staging spare parts kits for all scheduled work orders, ensuring technicians have the materials required to execute maintenance efficiently and without delay.
Additionally, this role maintains optimal inventory levels, drives supplier performance, and ensures 5S standards are upheld across all spare parts storage areas. Through proactive planning, strong vendor partnerships, and disciplined inventory management, this position directly supports equipment reliability, uptime, and overall operational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities:
- Owns the procurement of all maintenance materials, components, equipment, supplies, and services required to support plant operations, ensuring compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory standards
- Plans, schedules, and expedites the procurement and delivery of goods and services to meet maintenance and production requirements, utilizing strategies such as JIT, Kanban, blanket purchase orders, and rescheduling
- Manages and maintains accurate material, supplier, and planning data within the CMMS (MaintainX) and ERP/MRP systems, including item master, BOMs, min/max levels, and supplier records
- Determines material requirements based on preventative maintenance (PM) schedules and work orders, ensuring all required parts and materials are available prior to execution
- Prepares, stages, and manages spare parts kits for all scheduled preventative maintenance work orders, supporting the Weekend PM team and ensuring efficient, uninterrupted execution of maintenance activities
- Maintains optimal inventory levels of critical and consumable spare parts through effective planning, min/max control, and usage analysis to prevent stockouts and excess inventory
- Leads the organization and 5S standards of all spare parts storage areas, ensuring materials are properly labeled, accessible, and controlled
- Plans, schedules, and coordinates external contractors for preventative and corrective maintenance work, ensuring work is completed safely, on time, and within budget
- Identifies, evaluates, and develops supplier relationships to ensure reliable supply, competitive pricing, and alignment with company quality standards
- Solicits and evaluates supplier bids based on total cost of ownership, including price, quality, delivery, and service performance
- Negotiates pricing, lead times, and service agreements with suppliers and contractors to optimize cost and service levels
- Drives cost reduction initiatives through supplier optimization, standardization of parts and services, and continuous improvement of purchasing practices
- Partners with Maintenance, Operations, Finance, and Receiving to resolve discrepancies related to purchase orders, receipts, and invoicing
- Supports the development and management of the maintenance operating and capital budgets, tracking spend and identifying opportunities for cost control and savings
- Develops, implements, and supports sourcing strategies and supplier performance management processes to ensure long-term reliability and value
Qualifications & Requirements:
Minimum degree and experience:
- High School Diploma and/or equivalent experience required
- 3–5 years of experience in MRO procurement, maintenance planning, or supply chain purchasing within a manufacturing or industrial environment
- 2+ years of experience coordinating external service providers and contractors, including scheduling and execution of maintenance-related work
Specific competencies required:
- Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and CMMS platforms, including material planning, work order support, and inventory management
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, pivot tables, and inventory tracking; proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint)
- Demonstrated experience in inventory control and materials planning, including managing spare parts, min/max levels, and supporting preventative maintenance activities
- Solid understanding of procurement fundamentals, including purchasing processes, supplier coordination, and cost management
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, schedules, and systems simultaneously
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across Maintenance, Operations, Finance, and external partners
- Self-directed and accountable
Specific competencies preferred:
- Experience in a food manufacturing or regulated production environment, with knowledge of food safety and quality standards
- Experience supporting preventative maintenance programs, including planning, scheduling, or kitting of maintenance work orders
- Familiarity with MaintainX or similar CMMS platforms
- Experience with strategic sourcing, supplier evaluation, and vendor performance management, including negotiation of pricing and service agreements
- Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles, including 5S, visual management, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Experience with spare parts standardization, critical spares analysis, or inventory optimization strategies
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
Physical Requirements:
- This is an onsite position based at a manufacturing facility and requires onsite presence five days per week.
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time, including regular movement between the office and production floor.
- Ability to navigate a manufacturing environment, including exposure to varying temperatures, noise levels, and workplace conditions typical of food manufacturing operations.
- Ability to occasionally bend, stoop, reach, or climb stairs during employee interactions, orientations, audits, or events.
- Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25–50 pounds, such as materials for onboarding, employee events, or training setups.
- Must be able to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and in writing
- When present in production areas, personal protective equipment (PPE) is required, which may include safety shoes, hair/beard nets, safety glasses, and hearing protection.
- Prolonged periods of working at a computer utilizing typical office equipment (keyboard, mouse, monitor).
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.
Work Location: This is a fully onsite position based at our manufacturing facility in Haverhill, MA and requires an in‑person presence five days per week.
Compensation Range: $57,900 – $89,000 annually. Actual compensation will be based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity.
Additional Benefits:
- Annual bonus incentive
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Company‑paid life and disability insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off
- Pet Insurance
- Company-paid Mental Health Resources
- Opportunities for professional development